Chapter 28
Fiona
A bit of guilt hits me as I unlock my father’s front door and slip inside. I didn’t ask Ryan to drive me in case someone who knows my father drives by. Ethan’s car isn’t exactly inconspicuous, so anyone who sees it could inform my
father.
I don’t want that.
+23)
I want to get in, search for the will, and get out without anyone knowing.
To be even more sneaky, I don’t turn any lights on as I walk through the house. No one is supposed to be here, so having lights on, especially after dark like this would be a dead giveaway that someone was inside.
I’ve already searched my father’s safe, though I was rushed and didn’t have time to look through everything, so I start there.
With my phone’s flashlight on, I pull the stack of papers out and begin sifting through them. The deed to the house, birth certificates, social security cards, business papers, but no will. I push the papers aside and peer into the safe, pressing my fingers into the side panels and the top and bottom of the metal box.
When none of the sides budge or produce false panels, I carefully put the stack of important documents back into the safe. It wouldn’t do me any good to leave evidence of my snooping, so once everything is how I found it, I quietly shut the safe.
Next, I shuffle over to the large bookshelf. I might be giving my father too much credit, thinking he has a hidden compartment somewhere, but you never know. When people are greedy, they do anything to keep what they have.
My father isn’t some evil mastermind, but he is a greedy bastard, so I begin pulling on books to see if anything is hidden within them or on the shelves behind them.
I’m about halfway done when the light flicks on, making me jump and spin around.
“Jack!”
“Fiona?” For a second he’s surprised before his eyes narrow suspiciously.
What are you doing here?” I ask. He has no reason to be at my father’s house… unless he knew I was here. Did he?
“I- your father is at work and needed me to bring him a file because he forgot it when he left.”
This time, I study him with suspicion.
“Really?” I ask, crossing my arms. I try to look as natural as possible while leaning against the bookshelf.
“Of course. He couldn’t get away from the office since he’s in a meeting, so he asked me to come, but what are you-”
I scoff and wave my hand in the air, cutting him off.
“I can’t believe you’re lying to me again… wait, yes, I can. Clearly it’s all you do. Every word out of your mouth is a lie!” I shout. I can’t believe anything he says anymore. He’s been lying to me for so long.
Jack laughs and shakes his head, sending another shot of anger through me.
“And what are you doing here, Fiona? I’m sure your father doesn’t know you’re snooping around in his office,” he says, . motfoning to the bookshelf behind me. I stand straighter as if I could hide the evidence of my search.
“What I do is none of your business anymore, Jack.”
“It is if you’re here to steal confidential information.”
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Chapter 28
“Confidential?! My mother’s will is rightfully mine, and I shouldn’t have to…”
He smirks, and I curse myself. If he was unsure why I was here, he wouldn’t be anymore.
“You should give up, Fiona. You won’t find the will,” Jack says with a sniff. He smiles like he’s won before he adds, “The money will be mine in less than twenty–five days.”
49%
Hurt races through me, squeezing my chest until I can barely breathe. How did I ever think this man loved me? Was I so desperate for love that I ignored all the signs?
(23)
“You won’t get away with this, Jack,” I insist before grabbing my phone off the shelf and fleeing. I can’t stay here any longer.
A hand circles my arm, yanking me back. I yelp as my body collides with the wall. Jack pulls me to him and grabs me by the back of the neck, forcing my head up.
“I already am, and if you keep causing me problems, your little boyfriend won’t be able to help you,” he threatens. “Now get out of my sight.” He throws me aside, and I catch myself just as I’m about to hit the ground.
Stumbling, I rush out of the room, down the stairs, and out of the house with one goal. Get home.
I’ve never seen Jack that upset before, and if I’m honest, it scared me. The intensity of his threat and the fire in his eyes told me he wasn’t kidding. He’ll do whatever he can to get my mother’s money. He doesn’t care about me.
All he cares about is his own future.
“Looking for something, girlie?”
I startle at the rough, gravelly voice, and turn. A large man in leather stands behind me. When did he get there?
My eyes scan the area, and I realize two more leather–clad men are standing up ahead.
“I–I’m just heading home,” I stutter, fear gripping my chest. Maybe I should’ve gotten Ryan to drive me. It was stupid of me to go out at night on my own.
The man in front of me nods to one of the other men and then he lunges. Before I can run, he has an arm around my waist and a hand on my mouth to muffle my scream. I thrash, kicking and clawing at him, but he doesn’t budge.
“Grab her bag,” the man holding me orders.
“Help!” I scream against his hand, but you can barely hear me.
The man on the left rips my purse from my shoulder so hard I cry out. He dumps the contents out on the ground and grabs my wallet.
The few dollars that are in there disappear into his pocket along with my credit card.
“She’s pretty, Butch,” one man says to the man holding me. He grunts and drags me further into the alley. “Maybe we should see if she’s any fun…”
Terror pierces me. No, no, no. I have to get out of here.
I dig my nails into his wrists as hard as I can, and he finally drops me. I stumble, and I’ve only taken two steps when one of the men slams into me from behind. My body flies at the wall, and I barely have time to catch myself before one of the men grabs me by the hair and shoves me face first into the brick wall.
Pain rockets through my skull, and my vision tilts as dizziness hits me.
Another man grabs my right arm and pulls, sending more pain through it. A loud pop sounds, and this time I scream.
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Chapter 28
“Shut her up!”
A hand slaps over my mouth and shoves me back against the wall.
(23)
“Hey! I called the police!” A man’s voice shouts from somewhere to our left, making my attackers pause. Then the flash of blue and the loud wail of sirens sounds, and the men holding me captive run.
My body slumps to the ground as darkness creeps into the edges of my vision.
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